Reddit - Revision history

Sojourna: /* API paywall (April 2023) */

2026-04-17T01:42:45Z

API paywall (April 2023)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:42, 17 April 2026
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	In April 2023, Reddit announced that they would be locking API features and functionality previously accessible to its users behind a paywall, citing concerns about user-generated content being trained on AI. This resulted in a backlash in the community, as alternative apps utilizing Reddit's API such as Apollo would be rendered completely useless as a result of this decision. While some users held out hope that app developers could pay this fee to keep their user base, Apollo developer Christian Selig crushed any hope of this idea, explaining that the cost of this API fee was too high and that he would be ceasing development for the foreseeable future.		In April 2023, Reddit announced that they would be locking API features and functionality previously accessible to its users behind a paywall, citing concerns about user-generated content being trained on AI. This resulted in a backlash in the community, as alternative apps utilizing Reddit's API such as Apollo would be rendered completely useless as a result of this decision. While some users held out hope that app developers could pay this fee to keep their user base, Apollo developer Christian Selig crushed any hope of this idea, explaining that the cost of this API fee was too high and that he would be ceasing development for the foreseeable future.

	Users expressed concerns that this wasn't because of AI, but rather, due to greed and an attempt to monopolize information, as Reddit is often cited as many people's go to resource for almost any topic. This sentiment resulted in one of the largest internet protests known as the Reddit Blackout. The Reddit Blackout was an event in which ~~subreddits~~ were closed, marked as NSFW to prevent advertisements from being displayed on them, or flooded with posts shaming Reddit's CEO, Steve Huffman. Users also edited their posts, deleted them, or deleted their Reddit accounts to shame Huffman in an attempt to reduce the value of the information.<ref>{{Wplink\|2023 Reddit API controversy}} - '''Wikipedia''' ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260115133058/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy Archived 15/01/2026])</ref> <!-- To be expanded with better citations --><!-- Intentionally making this "citation" stand out due to being a Wikipedia link. Needs to be replaced. -Sojourna -->		Users expressed concerns that this wasn't because of AI, but rather due to greed and an attempt to monopolize information, as Reddit is often cited as many people's go-to resource for almost any topic. This sentiment resulted in one of the largest internet protests known as the Reddit Blackout. The Reddit Blackout was an event in which sub-reddits were closed, marked as NSFW to prevent advertisements from being displayed on them, or flooded with posts shaming Reddit's CEO, Steve Huffman. Users also edited their posts, deleted them, or deleted their Reddit accounts to shame Huffman in an attempt to reduce the value of the information.<ref>{{Wplink\|2023 Reddit API controversy}} - '''Wikipedia''' ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260115133058/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy Archived 15/01/2026])</ref> <!-- To be expanded with better citations --><!-- Intentionally making this "citation" stand out due to being a Wikipedia link. Needs to be replaced. -Sojourna -->

	===VPN blockage (''December 2023'')===		===VPN blockage (''December 2023'')===

JodyBruchonFan: /* Blocking expansions (2022) */ And, not or.

2026-03-29T06:25:03Z

Blocking expansions (2022): And, not or.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:25, 29 March 2026
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	===Blocking expansions (''2022'')===		===Blocking expansions (''2022'')===
	Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in one's notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refuting arguments that would have added value to a discussion. This makes discussions less meritocratic, meaning the final word rests with the person who blocked the other participant(s) first, not the person with the most merited arguments.<ref>{{Cite web \|author=enthusiastic-potato \|title=Announcing Blocking Updates \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ \|website=Reddit \|date=18 Jan 2022 \|access-date=11 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220216023601/https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ \|archive-date=16 Feb 2022}}</ref>		Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts and comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in one's notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refuting arguments that would have added value to a discussion. This makes discussions less meritocratic, meaning the final word rests with the person who blocked the other participant(s) first, not the person with the most merited arguments.<ref>{{Cite web \|author=enthusiastic-potato \|title=Announcing Blocking Updates \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ \|website=Reddit \|date=18 Jan 2022 \|access-date=11 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220216023601/https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ \|archive-date=16 Feb 2022}}</ref>

	Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>{{Cite web \|author=Love_In_My_Heart \|title=We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|website=Reddit \|date=26 Jan 2022 \|access-date=11 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203062331/https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|archive-date=3 Feb 2022}}</ref>		Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>{{Cite web \|author=Love_In_My_Heart \|title=We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|website=Reddit \|date=26 Jan 2022 \|access-date=11 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203062331/https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|archive-date=3 Feb 2022}}</ref>

JodyBruchonFan: /* Blocking expansions (2022) */ anti-meritocratic

2026-03-29T06:19:30Z

Blocking expansions (2022): anti-meritocratic

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:19, 29 March 2026
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	===Blocking expansions (''2022'')===		===Blocking expansions (''2022'')===
	Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in one's notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refuting arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>{{Cite web \|author=enthusiastic-potato \|title=Announcing Blocking Updates \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ \|website=Reddit \|date=18 Jan 2022 \|access-date=11 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220216023601/https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ \|archive-date=16 Feb 2022}}</ref>		Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in one's notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refuting arguments that would have added value to a discussion. This makes discussions less meritocratic, meaning the final word rests with the person who blocked the other participant(s) first, not the person with the most merited arguments.<ref>{{Cite web \|author=enthusiastic-potato \|title=Announcing Blocking Updates \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ \|website=Reddit \|date=18 Jan 2022 \|access-date=11 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220216023601/https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ \|archive-date=16 Feb 2022}}</ref>

	Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>{{Cite web \|author=Love_In_My_Heart \|title=We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|website=Reddit \|date=26 Jan 2022 \|access-date=11 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203062331/https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|archive-date=3 Feb 2022}}</ref>		Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>{{Cite web \|author=Love_In_My_Heart \|title=We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|website=Reddit \|date=26 Jan 2022 \|access-date=11 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203062331/https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|archive-date=3 Feb 2022}}</ref>

Sojourna: Clean-up; pass on style.

2026-03-12T01:19:20Z

Clean-up; pass on style.

Show changes

Venture18+: /* References */ replaced archive.today links and reformatted citation 10

2026-03-11T05:11:48Z

References: replaced archive.today links and reformatted citation 10

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:11, 11 March 2026
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	==Incidents==		==Incidents==
	===Hiding individual upvotes and downvotes, June 2014===		===Hiding individual upvotes and downvotes, June 2014===
	Since June 2014, individual upvote and downvote counts on posts are no longer publicly visible. Only the sum of votes and the percentage of upvotes are publicly visible.<ref>[https://archive.~~today~~/~~2015.06.01-192314~~/https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/28hjga/reddit_changes_individual_updown_vote_counts_no/ reddit changes: individual up/down vote counts no longer visible, "% like it" closer to reality, major improvements to "controversial" sorting : announcements] - Reddit</ref>		Since June 2014, individual upvote and downvote counts on posts are no longer publicly visible. Only the sum of votes and the percentage of upvotes are publicly visible.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150602223136/https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/28hjga/reddit_changes_individual_updown_vote_counts_no/ reddit changes: individual up/down vote counts no longer visible, "% like it" closer to reality, major improvements to "controversial" sorting : announcements] - Reddit</ref>

	===Hiding sticky comment vote counts, January 2016===		===Hiding sticky comment vote counts, January 2016===
	Since January 2016, vote counts on comments pinned by Reddit moderators are hidden from public view and only visible to moderators of the same subreddit. This prevents the public from knowing whether moderator decisions were widely agreed upon.<ref>[https://archive.~~today~~/~~2025.06.30-222930~~/https://~~www~~.reddit.com/r/ideasfortheadmins/comments/400on6/remove_karma_display_from_stickied_comments/ Remove Karma Display from Stickied Comments : ideasfortheadmins]</ref>		Since January 2016, vote counts on comments pinned by Reddit moderators are hidden from public view and only visible to moderators of the same subreddit. This prevents the public from knowing whether moderator decisions were widely agreed upon.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230604165556/https://old.reddit.com/r/ideasfortheadmins/comments/400on6/remove_karma_display_from_stickied_comments/ Remove Karma Display from Stickied Comments : ideasfortheadmins]</ref>

	===Going closed source, September 2017===		===Going closed source, September 2017===
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	Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in ones notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refutative arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Announcing Blocking Updates] (reddit.com/r/blog) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20220216023601/https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Archived])</ref>		Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in ones notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refutative arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Announcing Blocking Updates] (reddit.com/r/blog) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20220216023601/https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Archived])</ref>

	Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>[https://archive~~.today~~/~~2022~~.01.~~29-193057~~/https://~~www~~.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ ~~We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. : ModSupport]~~ - Reddit</ref>		Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>{{Cite web \|last=u/Love_In_My_Heart \|date=January 26, 2022 \|title=We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203062331/https://old.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ \|archive-date=February 3, 2022 \|website=Reddit - r/ModSupport}}</ref>

	===API paywall, June 2023===		===API paywall, June 2023===

Bananabot: Added archive URLs for 1 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

2026-02-23T12:55:28Z

Added archive URLs for 1 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:55, 23 February 2026
Line 38:		Line 38:
	In April 2023, Reddit announced that they would be locking API features and functionality previously accessible to its users behind a paywall, citing concerns about user generated content being trained on AI. This resulted in a backlash in the community, as alternative apps utilizing Reddit's API such as Apollo would be rendered completely useless as a result of this decision. While some users held out hope that app developers could pay this fee to keep their user base, Apollo developer Christian Selig crushed any hope of this idea, explaining that the cost of this API fee was too high and that he would be ceasing development for the foreseeable future.		In April 2023, Reddit announced that they would be locking API features and functionality previously accessible to its users behind a paywall, citing concerns about user generated content being trained on AI. This resulted in a backlash in the community, as alternative apps utilizing Reddit's API such as Apollo would be rendered completely useless as a result of this decision. While some users held out hope that app developers could pay this fee to keep their user base, Apollo developer Christian Selig crushed any hope of this idea, explaining that the cost of this API fee was too high and that he would be ceasing development for the foreseeable future.

	Users expressed concerns that this wasn't because of AI, but rather, due to greed and an attempt to monopolize information, as Reddit is often cited as many people's go to resource for almost any topic. This sentiment resulted in one of the largest internet protests known as the Reddit Blackout. The Reddit Blackout was an event in which subreddits were closed, marked as NSFW to prevent advertisements from being displayed on them, or flooded with posts shaming Reddit's CEO, Steve Huffman. Users also edited their posts, deleted them, or deleted their Reddit accounts to shame Huffman in an attempt to reduce the value of the information.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy "2023 Reddit API controversy"] - Wikipedia </ref> <!-- To be expanded with better citations -->		Users expressed concerns that this wasn't because of AI, but rather, due to greed and an attempt to monopolize information, as Reddit is often cited as many people's go to resource for almost any topic. This sentiment resulted in one of the largest internet protests known as the Reddit Blackout. The Reddit Blackout was an event in which subreddits were closed, marked as NSFW to prevent advertisements from being displayed on them, or flooded with posts shaming Reddit's CEO, Steve Huffman. Users also edited their posts, deleted them, or deleted their Reddit accounts to shame Huffman in an attempt to reduce the value of the information.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy "2023 Reddit API controversy"] - Wikipedia ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260115133058/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy Archived])</ref> <!-- To be expanded with better citations -->

	===VPN blockage, December 2023===		===VPN blockage, December 2023===

Bananabot: Added archive URLs for 12 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

2026-02-23T07:13:05Z

Added archive URLs for 12 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

MrAlex!: Added context to the 2018 data breach and added reference to official statement from Reddit

2026-02-20T10:48:22Z

Added context to the 2018 data breach and added reference to official statement from Reddit

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:48, 20 February 2026
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	*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> limited free API use<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Huffman \|first=Steve \|date=9 Jun 2023 \|title=Addressing the community about changes to our API \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />		*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> limited free API use<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Huffman \|first=Steve \|date=9 Jun 2023 \|title=Addressing the community about changes to our API \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />
	*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" />		*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web \|date=1 Aug 2018 \|title=We had a security incident. Here's what you need to know. \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/93qnm5/we_had_a_security_incident_heres_what_you_need_to/ \|website=Reddit}}</ref>
	*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,<!-- https://www.reddit.com/premium -->requires paying for elevated API usage since 2023.<ref name=":4" />		*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,<!-- https://www.reddit.com/premium -->requires paying for elevated API usage since 2023.<ref name=":4" />
	*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp\|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]		*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp\|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]
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	===Data breach, August 2018===		===Data breach, August 2018===
	In August 2018, Reddit suffered a data breach due to employees using SMS two-factor authentication (2FA). Leaked data included old ~~hashed~~ passwords and private messages from ~~before~~ 2007.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web \|date=1 Aug 2018 \|title=Reddit Breach Highlights Limits of SMS-Based Authentication \|url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=krebsonsecurity.com}}</ref>		In August 2018, Reddit suffered a data breach due to employees using SMS two-factor authentication (2FA). Leaked data included an old database containing usernames, emails, encrypted passwords, public posts and private messages from Reddit's launch date in 2005, through to May 2007. Additionally usernames and email addresses from users that received daily digests (emails containing post suggestions) sent between June 3 and June 17 2018 were also leaked.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web \|date=1 Aug 2018 \|title=Reddit Breach Highlights Limits of SMS-Based Authentication \|url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=krebsonsecurity.com}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

	===Blocking expansions, January 2022===		===Blocking expansions, January 2022===

MrAlex!: Correction: API usage requires subscription only if high usage is required

2026-02-19T14:49:59Z

Correction: API usage requires subscription only if high usage is required

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:49, 19 February 2026
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	==Consumer Impact Summary==		==Consumer Impact Summary==

	*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> ~~paywalled the~~ API<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Huffman \|first=Steve \|date=9 Jun 2023 \|title=Addressing the community about changes to our API \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />		*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> limited free API use<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Huffman \|first=Steve \|date=9 Jun 2023 \|title=Addressing the community about changes to our API \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />
	*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" />		*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" />
	*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,<!-- https://www.reddit.com/premium -->requires paying ~~to use the~~ API since 2023.<ref name=":4" />		*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,<!-- https://www.reddit.com/premium -->requires paying for elevated API usage since 2023.<ref name=":4" />
	*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp\|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]		*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp\|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]

MrAlex!: Removed "citation needed" (related to previous edit)

2026-02-19T14:39:02Z

Removed "citation needed" (related to previous edit)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:39, 19 February 2026
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	==Consumer Impact Summary==		==Consumer Impact Summary==

	*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> paywalled the API<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Huffman \|first=Steve \|date=9 Jun 2023 \|title=Addressing the community about changes to our API \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,~~{{Citation needed}}~~<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />		*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> paywalled the API<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Huffman \|first=Steve \|date=9 Jun 2023 \|title=Addressing the community about changes to our API \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />
	*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" />		*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" />
	*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,<!-- https://www.reddit.com/premium -->requires paying to use the API since 2023.<ref name=":4" />		*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,<!-- https://www.reddit.com/premium -->requires paying to use the API since 2023.<ref name=":4" />

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:13, 23 February 2026
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	==Consumer Impact Summary==		==Consumer Impact Summary==

	*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> limited free API use<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Huffman \|first=Steve \|date=9 Jun 2023 \|title=Addressing the community about changes to our API \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />		*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> limited free API use<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Huffman \|first=Steve \|date=9 Jun 2023 \|title=Addressing the community about changes to our API \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|website=Old Reddit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250603012129/https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ \|archive-date=3 Jun 2025}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />
	*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web \|date=1 Aug 2018 \|title=We had a security incident. Here's what you need to know. \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/93qnm5/we_had_a_security_incident_heres_what_you_need_to/ \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web \|date=1 Aug 2018 \|title=We had a security incident. Here's what you need to know. \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/93qnm5/we_had_a_security_incident_heres_what_you_need_to/ \|website=Reddit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251119040917/https://old.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/93qnm5/we_had_a_security_incident_heres_what_you_need_to/ \|archive-date=19 Nov 2025}}</ref>
	*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,<!-- https://www.reddit.com/premium -->requires paying for elevated API usage since 2023.<ref name=":4" />		*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,<!-- https://www.reddit.com/premium -->requires paying for elevated API usage since 2023.<ref name=":4" />
	*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp\|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]		*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp\|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]
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	===Going closed source, September 2017===		===Going closed source, September 2017===
	In September 2017, Reddit reverted on their open source policy and archived their public repositories, citing difficulty to stealth launch features and desire to move away from a monorepo architecture. Users responded by noting that neither of these reasons require being closed source, and that Reddit had been slowly becoming less transparent over time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|title=An update on the state of the reddit/reddit and reddit/reddit-mobile repositories \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/changelog/comments/6xfyfg/an_update_on_the_state_of_the_redditreddit_and/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>		In September 2017, Reddit reverted on their open source policy and archived their public repositories, citing difficulty to stealth launch features and desire to move away from a monorepo architecture. Users responded by noting that neither of these reasons require being closed source, and that Reddit had been slowly becoming less transparent over time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|title=An update on the state of the reddit/reddit and reddit/reddit-mobile repositories \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/changelog/comments/6xfyfg/an_update_on_the_state_of_the_redditreddit_and/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]] \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212072029/https://old.reddit.com/r/changelog/comments/6xfyfg/an_update_on_the_state_of_the_redditreddit_and/ \|archive-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref>

	===Data breach, August 2018===		===Data breach, August 2018===
	In August 2018, Reddit suffered a data breach due to employees using SMS two-factor authentication (2FA). Leaked data included an old database containing usernames, emails, encrypted passwords, public posts and private messages from Reddit's launch date in 2005, through to May 2007. Additionally usernames and email addresses from users that received daily digests (emails containing post suggestions) sent between June 3 and June 17 2018 were also leaked.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web \|date=1 Aug 2018 \|title=Reddit Breach Highlights Limits of SMS-Based Authentication \|url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=krebsonsecurity.com}}</ref><ref name=":5" />		In August 2018, Reddit suffered a data breach due to employees using SMS two-factor authentication (2FA). Leaked data included an old database containing usernames, emails, encrypted passwords, public posts and private messages from Reddit's launch date in 2005, through to May 2007. Additionally usernames and email addresses from users that received daily digests (emails containing post suggestions) sent between June 3 and June 17 2018 were also leaked.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web \|date=1 Aug 2018 \|title=Reddit Breach Highlights Limits of SMS-Based Authentication \|url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=krebsonsecurity.com \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205181109/https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ \|archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

	===Blocking expansions, January 2022===		===Blocking expansions, January 2022===
	Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in ones notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refutative arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Announcing Blocking Updates] (reddit.com/r/blog)</ref>		Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in ones notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refutative arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Announcing Blocking Updates] (reddit.com/r/blog) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20220216023601/https://old.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Archived])</ref>

	Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>[https://archive.today/2022.01.29-193057/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. : ModSupport] - Reddit</ref>		Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>[https://archive.today/2022.01.29-193057/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. : ModSupport] - Reddit</ref>
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	===VPN blockage, December 2023===		===VPN blockage, December 2023===
	In December 2023, Reddit began blocking VPN access to users not logged in to the site.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|date=16 Dec 2023 \|title=Tell HN: Just noticed Reddit blocking VPN traffic. Old subdomain still works \|url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38666028 \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=news.ycombinator.com}}</ref>		In December 2023, Reddit began blocking VPN access to users not logged in to the site.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|date=16 Dec 2023 \|title=Tell HN: Just noticed Reddit blocking VPN traffic. Old subdomain still works \|url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38666028 \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=news.ycombinator.com \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708165248/https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38666028 \|archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref>

	===Advertisement deception, March 2024===		===Advertisement deception, March 2024===
	In March 2024, Reddit rolled out a feature that made ads look like they came from real users (and by extent, were "upvoted" by real users). Reddit boasted that these ads had a 28% higher click-through rate than regular ads.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Malik \|first=Aisha \|date=4 Mar 2024 \|title=Reddit introduces a new ad format that looks similar to posts made by users \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/reddit-introduces-a-new-ad-format-that-looks-similar-to-posts-made-by-users/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=TechCrunch}}</ref>		In March 2024, Reddit rolled out a feature that made ads look like they came from real users (and by extent, were "upvoted" by real users). Reddit boasted that these ads had a 28% higher click-through rate than regular ads.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Malik \|first=Aisha \|date=4 Mar 2024 \|title=Reddit introduces a new ad format that looks similar to posts made by users \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/reddit-introduces-a-new-ad-format-that-looks-similar-to-posts-made-by-users/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=21 Apr 2025 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260129142204/https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/reddit-introduces-a-new-ad-format-that-looks-similar-to-posts-made-by-users/ \|archive-date=29 Jan 2026}}</ref>

	===Users can hide their contribution history, June 2025===		===Users can hide their contribution history, June 2025===
	Since June 2025, Reddit has given its users the ability to hide their posting and commenting history from public view. If this setting is enabled, the posts and comments only remain visible through subreddit pages, not profile pages. Only the account owner themselves and moderators of subreddits they have interacted with during the last 28 days can view the posting and commenting history.<ref>[https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-now-hide-your-reddit-posts-and-comments-from-your-profile/ You can now hide your Reddit posts and comments from your profile - Neowin]</ref>		Since June 2025, Reddit has given its users the ability to hide their posting and commenting history from public view. If this setting is enabled, the posts and comments only remain visible through subreddit pages, not profile pages. Only the account owner themselves and moderators of subreddits they have interacted with during the last 28 days can view the posting and commenting history.<ref>[https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-now-hide-your-reddit-posts-and-comments-from-your-profile/ You can now hide your Reddit posts and comments from your profile - Neowin] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251122031310/https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-now-hide-your-reddit-posts-and-comments-from-your-profile/ Archived])</ref>

	This is different from "private profiles" on some other social media services like Twitter, where setting ones' profile to private would hide both ones profile and posts in discussion threads, limiting interaction to ones' followers.		This is different from "private profiles" on some other social media services like Twitter, where setting ones' profile to private would hide both ones profile and posts in discussion threads, limiting interaction to ones' followers.

	An argument cited for private profiles is discussing sensitive topics.<ref>[https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1mioibb/you_can_now_hide_your_post_history_on_reddit/ You can now hide your post history on Reddit : privacy] - Reddit</ref> It should however be noted that Reddit already allowed people to participate on separate accounts for discussing sensitive topics that they did not wish to associate with their existing account.<ref>[https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/204535759-Is-it-ok-to-create-multiple-accounts Is it ok to create multiple accounts? – Reddit Help]</ref>		An argument cited for private profiles is discussing sensitive topics.<ref>[https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1mioibb/you_can_now_hide_your_post_history_on_reddit/ You can now hide your post history on Reddit : privacy] - Reddit ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251115042723/https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1mioibb/you_can_now_hide_your_post_history_on_reddit/ Archived])</ref> It should however be noted that Reddit already allowed people to participate on separate accounts for discussing sensitive topics that they did not wish to associate with their existing account.<ref>[https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/204535759-Is-it-ok-to-create-multiple-accounts Is it ok to create multiple accounts? – Reddit Help] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251210081414/https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/204535759-Is-it-ok-to-create-multiple-accounts Archived])</ref>

	According to TechCrunch, a possible reason for this change to have user data like engagement and interests associated with a single user account, making it easier for Reddit to target advertisements.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/03/reddit-now-lets-you-hide-content-like-posts-and-comments-from-your-user-profile/ Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile] - TechCrunch</ref>		According to TechCrunch, a possible reason for this change to have user data like engagement and interests associated with a single user account, making it easier for Reddit to target advertisements.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/03/reddit-now-lets-you-hide-content-like-posts-and-comments-from-your-user-profile/ Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile] - TechCrunch ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128183754/https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/03/reddit-now-lets-you-hide-content-like-posts-and-comments-from-your-user-profile/ Archived])</ref>

	===Blocking the Internet Archive, August 2025===		===Blocking the Internet Archive, August 2025===
	In 2025, Reddit announced it would block the indexing of its pages by the [https://archive.org Internet Archive]. This means users will no longer be able to access deleted Reddit threads.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|date=2025-08-14 \|title=“New age of internet censorship”: Reddit to block the Internet Archive from indexing its site. Here’s why it matters \|url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/reddit-to-block-the-internet-archive-from-indexing-the-site/ \|website=Daily Dot}}</ref>		In 2025, Reddit announced it would block the indexing of its pages by the [https://archive.org Internet Archive]. This means users will no longer be able to access deleted Reddit threads.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|date=2025-08-14 \|title=“New age of internet censorship”: Reddit to block the Internet Archive from indexing its site. Here’s why it matters \|url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/reddit-to-block-the-internet-archive-from-indexing-the-site/ \|website=Daily Dot \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251119081125/https://www.dailydot.com/news/reddit-to-block-the-internet-archive-from-indexing-the-site/ \|archive-date=19 Nov 2025}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==